1st bday party - not so fun

Jackie - posted on 01/05/2010

Sorry to hear you had a bad experience...its something we build up in our heads for the entire first year. We had alot of ppl leave right after the cake...but that was a couple hours into it. Once we had lunch we kept everything moving pretty fast paced. But it may have been the timing. Alot of toddlers are starting to move to one nap a day and its usually early afternoon. Yes some people say just skip the nap, but for babies who live on a schedule you can't do that. You can stretch it a little with most of them, but to "skip it" can screw up the next day or two actually. Maybe shoot for a start time a couple hours later next time. But I def. wouldn't take it personally...just be concerned that you were there and you made it special for your little one!

Beverley - posted on 01/05/2010

My daughter has an amazing 1st birthday. It was in our garden and was a garden and bug theme - we call her bug! A friend baked her very special garden and bugs cake which Natalie just got so excited to see. Natalie spent time with everyone, opened all her presents, ate all kinds of things, got filthy and swam. Needless to say we ALL slept very well!

Jessica - posted on 01/05/2010

My daughter's first birthday was very fast paced - more so than I had really planned. She has such a short attention span that we did presents immediately and cake immediately after that. I think the whole thing was over in like an hour! By 2 hours everyone had left.

Colleen - posted on 01/02/2010

I would think people would have stayed too! I would have been pretty upset, as it turns out for my daughter's first birthday she was sick, so we had to cancel her party - I was pretty disappointed, but now she gets 2 parties (since not everyone can get together at the same time). I think first birthdays are a big deal and I would expect that someone that would RSVP would either stay (at least until cake!) or let you know in advance that they can only stay a short time. We're really flexible with naps...I guess I assume everyone else would be too!

Michelle - posted on 01/02/2010

Yes, I agree. Why would folks leave before cake? I would have liked that, we had no cake left & my husband didn't get any :( I suppose parents of little ones have a limited tolerance for lengthy outings? I was exhausted after my son's & it was planned for 2 hours... People were finally gone after 3 hours. Sorry that happened to you!

Jessi - posted on 01/02/2010

WOW!!!! I have never heard of that before. I have been to many many 1st birthday parties and had 3 of my own and no one has ever left before cake. I understand that some people have schedules, but if there is something special going on the nap can wait an hour or two unless their child is so upset that they ruin your childs party. We should start a group titled "Dont leave til the cake has been cut!!!!" I think it should be standard birthday party etiquette.